U.S. Secretary of State Blinken Undertakes Diplomatic Efforts in the Middle East Amidst Gaza Conflict
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his diplomatic initiatives on Monday, engaging in talks with Arab leaders in an effort to quell the escalating conflict in Gaza.
In the United Arab Emirates, Blinken met with Abu Dhabi’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Later in the day, he was scheduled to hold discussions in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the oasis town of Al Ula before proceeding to Israel.
The diplomatic efforts come after Blinken’s visits to Jordan and Qatar on Sunday. During these meetings, he reassured Arab officials of the United States’ opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Instead, the U.S. aims for Israel’s Muslim-majority neighbors to play a role in shaping the future governance of the Strip.
This marks Blinken’s fourth visit to the region since the military offensive by Israel in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza on southern Israel.
Blinken is urging participating states to work towards reducing tensions that have resulted in violence not only in the Israeli-occupied West Bank but also in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Additionally, the tensions have led to Houthi attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
Accompanying Blinken is U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking. The U.S. is seeking regional support to counter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, with Blinken emphasizing in Qatar on Sunday that these attacks have disrupted or diverted nearly 20% of global shipping, impacting the cost of goods, including food and fuel.
In response to the Houthi threat, the U.S. has taken action, striking Houthi vessels and forming an international coalition of over 20 countries to safeguard ships in the Red Sea waters near Yemen, a significant portion of which is under Houthi control.
The ongoing Houthi attacks and the international response have strained a ceasefire and peace talks that had previously curtailed the conflict in Yemen, more than eight years after a Saudi-led coalition intervened against the Houthi movement.
Blinken is set to conclude his diplomatic efforts in Israel, where, on Tuesday, he will engage with officials. In a statement on Sunday, he indicated that he would address the importance of protecting civilians in the Gaza conflict and reiterate Washington’s objection to calls from right-wing members of Israel’s ruling coalition advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza.
πΊπΈ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the Middle East on Sunday for the 4th time since the start of the #IsraelHamasWar.
While in Qatar on Sunday, he pledged to tell Israel that it must do more to prevent civilian casualties in #Gaza.@camille_knight1 reports π pic.twitter.com/Hs39k7d2mE
β FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) January 8, 2024